Dam form



Aug. 25, 1953 w. scHu'r-l-E 2,649,643

DAM FORM Filed Oct. 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM H. 50Hz/UE BY/ Z ATTORNEY iu uw \\\w V/ 24% y 4,

Aug. 25, 1953 w. H. scHuTTE DAM FORM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1950 .m mw 0 www N V ,j m I. M. l 3m A M l/ SWW w m 6. am

Aug. 25, 1953 w. `H.`scHU'rTE DAM FORM Filed Oct. 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BWM La A T 7'0RNEY w adjacent pairs of walers.

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 DAM FORM William H. Schutte, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor to Noble Co., Oakland, Calif., a corporation I of California l Application October 5, 1950, Serial No. 188,574

4 Claims.

This invention relates to forms used to conne and shape masses of concrete.

These forms may be used, for example, in constructing dams, where large sections are poured in layers about ve feet high. As each layer solidies, the forms are moved up to a new height where they are placed in position for the next pouring.

Considerable pressure is exerted on these forms by the concrete being poured, especially when the concrete is compacted by mechanical vibrators in order to increase its density and strength. Heretofore there has been a problem of obtaining suicient support for the forms, so that the panels are not bowed out unduly. For that reason the panels have been made rather narrow and small. The present invention provides a construction that enables the use of panels about 25 percent larger than heretofore. Not only is better support given the forms by a new construction of walers or buckstays, but fewer forms are necessary, and the time taken in moving forms and adjusting them in position is correspondingly reduced.

The weight and pressure of the concrete being poured tends to push the forms out. For that reason it is desirable that the forms be so constructed that they may be swung around a pivot point toward or away from the space to be filled. li a wall is to be vertical when the concrete has hardened, the forms should be tilted in before the pouring begins, as the weight of the concrete will push the panels out and straighten them up.

The problem in adjustable forms has been to obtain this necessary adjustment without sacriiicing strength. The present invention solves this problem and makes possible the use of fewer larger forms than heretofore, because the panels are given more support. This is made possible by the use of an improved type of waler and an improved type of anchor block to which the walers are pivotally connected.

A further problem solved bythis invention is that of stripping the forms from the concrete when the concrete has hardened. In the present invention the stripping may be done simply by reversing the adjustment mechanism.

The form that constitutes this invention includes a panel supported by a plurality of pairs of walers or buckstays, which are beams secured to its back surface. The use of walers in pairs gives a greatly increased rigidity and strength to the form and prevents sagging in between Each pair of walers is pivotally secured to an anchor block, which, in turn, may be rigidly secured to an anchor bolt that threads into and projects out from the hardened concrete mass. The anchor block is preferably located mainly or entirely below the lower edge of the panel. Adjustment is obtained by swinging the walers around a pivot so as to tilt the panel with respect to the anchor block. When the adjustment means is moved to tilt the panelin the opposite direction, it acts to strip the panel from the concrete.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof. It should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. They are described by way of illustration, vand the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig l is a view in perspective of one type of form embodying this invention with parts of adjacent forms shown secured in place on both sides of the form and broken off to conserve space. A working platform is indicated by dotdash lines.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the left hand side of the form shown in Fig. l, showing one pair of walers and the parts adjacent thereto.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section of the form shown in Figs. l and 2, taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing the form anchored to a layer of hardened concrete and the panel tilted in before the next layer of concrete is poured.

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4--4 in Figs. 2 and 3, showing the attachment of one pair of Walers to the panel.

Fig. 5 is a View in section taken along the line 5-5 in Figs. 2 and 3, showing a load compression spring which aids in stripping the panel from the concrete after pouring and hardening.

Fig. 6 is a view in section taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 3, showing the roller and adjacent parts at the bottom of the frame.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified type of form, where a `different type of waler is employed together with a different type of anchor block and a different type of adjusting and stripping mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 9- 9 of Figs. 7 and 8, and showing the screw adjustment and stripping means.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in section taken 3 along the line l-Ill in Figs. 7 and 8, showing the parts adjacent the pivot point of the frame. Fig. l1 is a View similar to Figs. 2 and 7 of another modified type of form, having a modified type waler together with a modied type of anchor block and a modified type of adjusting and stripping means.A Fig. .li also shows a portion of an adgjacent fibrin and lhow adjacent forms may be secured together.

Fig. 12 is a View partly in section taken alongY the line |2-l2 of Fig. 1l. n

Description, of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 This form includes a panel rZtl-'suppo'rtezl -by' two pairs of walers 30, 3l. The walers are pivotally mounted to swing relatively to an anchor 50, and the stripping is aided by a spring means 60 that opposes the tilting-in movement of the .jaokscrew 50.

The .panel may be of wood or metal. If it 'isma'de from wood, fas-illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, it usually comprises a `plurality of .boards 2i nailed, bolted, or notherwise secured to vertical stri'r-r'gers k2?. horizontal 'edge -stringers- 215i may be metal channels and there mayrbean X^brace 25 across the back of the ypanel '20. -A metal panel such as the panel 112i) in FigsJ' to il2 is also suitable for this form.

Two fpairsfbf walers's', -3-l are secured to two of vertifcalstringers?. (See Fig. 4.) Each waler 313, 31 is preferablya channel beam with one side 'secured to the IStringer 22. (See Fig. e.) The two vchannels 35, `trl `of 4each pair are placed Aback to back and are spaced apart from each other. Cross 'braces f32 fmay be welded across the outer side of each pair of walers 3D, 3l to space them apart evenly and to hold 1them Atogether as a unit. (See Figs. lfandV 2.3 The increased support .provi-ded by having pairs of walers se- 'cured to the back fof ethe panel lZtl is a feature of thepresen't invention. The ytwo channels V30, 3l,

- sspa'dedlaiboiit'a footer 'more apart and acting as a l `to 'b"e -fm'ade about 225 .percent longer, with the .advantages already explained.

The walers '30, SPI `are pivotally secured` by a pivetpin -t-o fan lanclflnr :block 40 l'adjacent the v'lo'weredgefothe :panel fill. (See Fig. 3.) The anchor blooirrfill Amay ccorn-prise a steel bracket that :'ts finside the space between and extends 'ont beyond the Walers. It'should be long enough xto 'providevja sgood Ybase that will remain -rm against the caricia-:ite face 'when the walers are `pivoted about it. aplate 4I lacross the blocks `outer face vd'2 has a central slot 43, open at its lower vend. Thevslot i113 receives :an anchor bolt "ed, which is ltightened against the :plate 4I to rThe vertical -edge--stringers 23 and that the form can be moved, and it is screwed back into place later when the forms are raised.

By swinging the walers 3d, 3i about the Divot 55, the panel 2) may be tilted in lor out relative to the stationary anchor block 40 (see Fig. 3). In the form illustrated in Figs. l to 6, this swinging adjustmenty is controlledV by a jackscrew 5t* at the lower end of'tlfl'efwaiers Si), 3l. A cross brace 5I may be provided on the inner edge of `the walers having an opening 52 for the jackscrew 50. At the inner end 54 `of the jackscrew 59 there may be a plate or pad 55 connected to thescrew :by Va ball-and-socket joint 56, so that there will beta flat'plate 55 bearing against the concrete at alltirnes. As the jackscrew 5B is screwed in, the plate 55 bears against the concrete-base iii-tand the pair of walers 30, 3l are swung around their pivot 35 in a counter-clockwise direction. As seen in Fig. 3 the panel 25 is tilted in (tO. the left Fig-3) To facilitate tilting, the oiicieteblocks arerpreferablyjinolded with-.a ehamferedviipper edge., "shown at 51, which .is formed by the projecting upper edge '53 of the panel-12B. Y l A when eencrete has selig-linee, the pana `2n tends .to stickto it. "To make stripping easier, a load compression spring te may be mounted between `a cross brace 6I` that extends over the walers 3i3j3|V aa 'base men'lber .portion 1520i 'the anchor block' that ei'rtends np between .the Walers'f, El ieee I`i:".-ig`s."3A and 5). A ibolt 63 ei'tends through the spring "65, which being between 'the brace-5I and th'ebasei is 'under initial Compression. "'The vSpring 'BB "therefore urge'sfthe walrs 135,' '3l around the pivot in a clockwise direction as seen 'in Eig. or opposite Yhold the block 40 4iirmagainst `the concrete face support the Storm for the 'next fblock `to be cast across the walers 30, 3l oppesiteanopening 41 through'theupperehdbf the panel 2B, Jand the bolt 44a to be used to support-the form 'in its -neXt *position is inserted therethrough landfretained A At the lower end ofthe walers 3E, '3l and usually below the 'jac'llzscrew158y there may be a .bracket .l5 where aplatforrnl can 'be secured inplace. Here .the workers can stand when they work, as when 'they .tighten the 'anchor bolt i4 on "the anchor .blockll adjust -the .jackscrew' 5U, and secure adjacent orrn's together.

JThe side. of the walersB, 3l that `is opposite ffromft'he bracket 'Ill-'is adjacent lthe concrete .block 45. '.Here. there may lbea shock pad of metal, or theremaybea face vr `lle'r 58D journaled in a 'bracket S'LKFigsB and 6.) IThe ,roller '8B is used especially where the face is a sloping one .rather than .a vertical one. It rolls overthe Yface of the .concretefwhen the 'form is lifted to its next higher position. The .loca'tion of .the roller .Bil Yat thelowenend oi, the,..walers.insu11es its contact withthe concrete lace, `when 4'the spring E!) swings .the walerssaround thepivot 35 and as .theform itself .ti-lts outwardly.

The forms are-.nsually .lifted `by .cables (not shown) that are `hoolred `or..othc-)rwrise secured rthroughfthe .holes v82y in vthe y.upper end of vthe -walersff I foperdffe dif-the form shawn@ Figs. 1 to V6 :Preciousla 'ftherfconcrete yasrock H215. will have 'been provided with athreadediopening, vand an Y"anchorbolt d'4iisthreadeditherein'beorepr while therlformfs'maneirvere intoapositien. 'rh-erom Y Vis 'usually lifted into position by hoisting "cables the face of the block 45, or there may be pads which slide along the face.

The anchor block 40 is positioned so that the bolt 44 may engage in the slot 43. Usually this is done by raising the form a little higher than its final position and lowering it into place, the open slot 43 being provided for this purpose in preference to a circular hole. Then the bolt 44 is tightened to hold against the plate 4|, and the block 40 is substantially stationary.

The jackscrew 50 may then be tightened against the wall of the block 45. As it is screwed in, it moves the lower end of the walers 30, 3| outwardly and the walers swing around the pivots 35. This swings the panel into the desired position against the resistance of the compression spring 60. When the desired position is reached, the bolt 44a, is inserted in the template 46 through the opening 41, and the member 48 is swung up to hold it there.

The concrete is then poured, and its weight develops a pressure which tends to straighten up the face of the panel 20. If the concrete face is to have a slope, the panels 20 are tilted in accordingly. If the concrete face is to be vertical, the proper inward tilt is made to allow for the movement of the panel under the load of the concrete. The pairs of walers 30, 3| provide an adequate base for this swinging without sacricing strength. For wooden panels five feet high by ten feet wide, the walers 30, 3| may be placed with their center lines about six feet apart and about two feet from the side edges.

Before the concrete is completely dry (usually after three or four hours) the upper spare bolt 44a. is removed from the concrete and from the template. When the concrete is dry and has set (usually about 48 to '72 hours), the jackscrew 50 is unscrewed, and the spring 60 helps to strip away the panels 20 from the concrete and to swing the walers 30, 3| outwardly at their upper ends and inwardly at their lower ends. If the lifting cables are in place, the anchor bolt 44 may then be removed from the block and from the slot 43, and the form may be raised to the next level and secured there.

Description of the concrete form shown in Figs. 7 to 10 This form includes a panel |20 supported by a pair of short walers |30, |3| which are approximately coextensive with the panel |20. The supporting walers |30, |3| are pivotally mounted to a pair of anchor channels |40, |4| that extend down below the panel |20. The adjustment screw |50 acts directly between the supporting walers |30, |3| and the anchor channels |40, |4| both for tilting in and out and for stripping.

A metal form |20 is shown here, although wood forms could be used. The form |20 presents a generally flat face to the concrete and has a number of horizontal bracing ribs |2| on its back side. The walers |30, |3| may be bolted or Awelded or otherwise secured to each of the ribs |2| or to several of them. p

The supporting walers |30, |3| are shorter :than the walers 30, 3| shown in Figs. 1-6. They terminate closely adjacent the lower end of the lpanel |20, where each is pivotally secured by a bolt |35 to a pair of anchor channels |40, |4| that are considerably longer than the anchor block 40 of the device first described. The channels |40, |4| are spaced closer together than are the walers |30, |3| so as to t inside the space between them, preferably facing in the opposite directions from the directions faced by their respective walers. A plate |42 secured across the anchor channels |40, |4| has a slot |43 that is open on its lower edge to receive the anchor bolt |44, which is secured in the concrete block |45.

A template |46, perforated to receive another anchor bolt |4411., is provided near the upper ends of the walers |30, |3| opposite an opening |41 through the panel |20. A pivoted keeper member |48 holds the bolt |440, in place.

A brace |5| is rigidly secured across the walers |30, |3|. An adjusting screw |50 nts loosely in an opening |52 through the brace |5| and bears against the outer face of the brace; a washer |55 is spot welded or otherwise secured to the screw |50 so as to bear against the inner face of the brace |5|. The screw |50 is threaded through an opening |53 in a bracket or swivel nut |54 that is secured across the anchor channels 40, |4|. When the screw |50 is turned in or out, it swings the walers |30, |3| around the pivot |35 Asupported in the channels |40, |4|. Since the connection is positive, reversal of the tilting direction serves to strip the panels from the concrete.

The platform-supporting bracket |10 is similar to the bracket 10 except that it is supported by the anchor block |40, |4| instead of on the lower end of the walers |30, |3|. A pad |80 is shown at or near the lower end of the anchor channels 40, |4|, instead of rollers 80, but rollers may again be used. Holes for the hoisting cables are provided at the upper end of the walers |30, I 3|.

Operation of the form of Figs. 7 to 10 The operation is generally similar to that for the form of Figs. 1 to 6, except for the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment screw |50 is located above the pivot pin |35 instead of below it and operates positively between the walers |30. |3| and the anchor block |40, |4I, instead of indirectly against the concrete wall. Threading the adjustment screws |50 in one direction tilts the panel to the left in Fig. 8 (counterclockwise). Stripping is done positively` by turning the screw |50 in the opposite direction.

The two forms so far discussed each have their own advantages and preferred uses. For some situations the first type will be preferred; for others, the second type is better and the situation will determine which one is better to use.

Description of the concrete form shown in Figs. 11 and 12 r1`he third type of form has some similarities with each of the two types heretofore described. It includes a panel 220 Supported by two pairs of walers 230 and 23|, which are pivotally mounted at 235 on a pair of anchor channels 240 and 24|. The tilt is adjusted by a screw 250.

The panel 220 is a metal form similar to the panel |20. It has horizontal bracing ribs 22|. Successive panels 220 are held in alignment with each other by bolts 222 that pass through the vertical edge members 223.

Like the walers 30, 3|, the walers 230, 23| extend down a substantial distance below the lower end of the form 220. The walers 230, 23| are preferably rigidly bolted or otherwise secured to each of the ribs 22| so that they give the maximum support to the form 220. Bracing members 232 space and brace the walers 230, 23|.

The anchor channels 240, 24| extend down from a point just below the lower edge of the brackets secured 'adjacent the lower end of said upright members; a jackscrew threaded through each said bracket and adapted to bear against the solidified preceding section of concrete so that the screwing of said jackscrew swings said upright members about their pivots; Ia spring under compression between each said anchor block and at least one associated upright member for yieldably resisting the swinging movement of said members and for stripping the forms from poured concrete when said jackscrews are screwed in the opposite direction from that by which the panels are swung inwardly; said members having openings therethrough and the panel also having an opening therethrough opposite the aforesaid openings so as to receive 10 an additional anchoring mean-s used to prepare a place in the concrete being poured to receive the anchoring means that will hold the anchor block when the form is raised to pour the next level; and members pivotally secured to said upright members for retaining said additional anchoring means in place.

WILLIAM H. SCHUT'I'E.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,368,105 Bostain Feb. 8, 1921 2,355,376 Huddleston et al. Aug. 8, 1944 2,493,264 Records Jan. 3, 1950 

